Abstract
Objectives
To characterize contraceptive method use and satisfaction among Spanish-speaking Latina immigrants who attend their child’s well care visit.
Methods
Spanish-speaking women whose youngest child was ≤ 4 years old completed an orally-administered Spanish-language survey in a pediatric clinic (N = 194). Survey items were based on previously published contraceptive use assessments among diverse populations. We used chi-square and Fisher exact test to describe maternal characteristics by contraceptive method effectiveness categories: Tier 1, most effective methods (hormonal implant, intrauterine device, tubal ligation, and vasectomy); Tier 2, very effective methods (hormonal injection, oral contraceptive pill, hormonal patch, and hormonal ring); Tier 3, effective methods (condoms), and no method.
Results
34% of women were using a Tier 1 method, 40% were using a Tier 2 method, and 17% had unmet contraceptive need (no pregnancy intention, no birth control); 84% were satisfied with their current method and 82% of women were uninsured. Tier 2 method or no method users were more likely than women using a Tier 1 method to have children < 9 months old (X2 (6, N = 190) = 20.4, p = .002).
Conclusions
Latina immigrants with young children who attend their child’s pediatric visit are mostly using effective contraceptives and are satisfied with their method. A culturally supportive medical home and access to no-cost long-acting reversible contraceptives through a temporary private grant likely contributed to high contraceptive use and satisfaction in our study. Describing maternal contraceptive use among Latina immigrant mothers can inform future equitable, culturally tailored, approaches to pediatric maternal contraceptive need screening.
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Data Availability
Yes.
Code Availability
Not applicable.
Notes
U.S. Census defines Latino(a) or Hispanic as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. We use Latino to be inclusive of our participants who collectively come from many countries.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Tatiahna Rivera, Sashini Godage,and Amanda Tuchler for their contributions to the study.
Funding
This study was supported by the Bright Futures Young Investigator Award from the Academic Pediatrics Association and funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration/Maternal and Child Health Bureau in cooperation with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Tania Caballero conceived and designed the study and wrote the manuscript. Dr Bou Delgado collected the data, Drs. Upadhya and Johnson approved the study design. Dr DeCamp approved the study design and analyzed the data. Dr Wu performed the statistical analysis. All authors approved the final manuscript.
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Caballero, T.M., Bou Delgado, L., Wu, L. et al. Mi Familia Entera: Contraceptive Use Among Spanish-Speaking Mothers of Young Children. Matern Child Health J 26, 139–148 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03300-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03300-6